’s nominations process in his first communication with members since being appointed last week.
Referring to the killing of George Floyd, Majumdar acknowledged that he is taking on the BAFTA role at a critical moment. “The horrific killing of George Floyd by a Minnesota policeman has ignited huge waves of anti-racist protests and demonstrations all over the world. I feel that every organization, including BAFTA, must play its role responding to this movement.”He said that racism and structural inequality are ingrained in society.
“I’d like to share some thoughts on my personal journey, and how I come to be writing to you as chair of BAFTA today. I was never the likeliest candidate. My father was an Indian immigrant who moved to Britain in the 1960s and settled in the South Wales valleys as a GP who worked for the NHS for over 40 years. Growing up, there was no-one from the Bengali community with connections in the film or television industries. I started in 2000 as a trainee at ITN and then at the BBC.
“Racism and structural inequality are ingrained in society. Historically, black and other people of color have been exploited and faced discrimination and suffered for years. It’s important that we don’t just acknowledge overt racism, physical violence and verbal barbs – it is also crucial that we talk about the unseen, insidious, systemic racism that black people face – the micro-aggressions, the disenfranchisements and the disadvantages in employment. Everything leaves a psychological toll.
“However, the 2020 nominations showed we are a long way from where we want to be. It is right that we have accepted responsibility for this, and that we have announced an immediate and wide-ranging review into the awards – which I am personally leading.”
KrishMajumdar An amazing first letter that really filled me with hope ❤️
The British Academy have nothing to say about tens of thousands of British girls being brutalised by foreign gangs and covered up by cops, but have a lot to say about one misogynistic junkie convict unlawfully killed in the US!